Key facts
- US F-35 stealth fighters are participating in India's Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise for the first time.
- The exercise will be held in Jodhpur, India, from September 26 to October 12.
- IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit confirmed the F-35's participation.
- The F-35s will provide Indian pilots with direct tactical exposure to fifth-generation airpower on home soil.
- Seven nations, including the US, France, UAE, Australia, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, will directly participate with aircraft.
US F-35 stealth fighters are set to participate in India's Tarang Shakti 2026 military exercise, marking the first time these advanced aircraft will train on Indian soil. The exercise, scheduled to commence on September 26 in Jodhpur and conclude on October 12, will see the F-35s operating alongside Indian Air Force (IAF) combat aircraft such as Rafales, Su-30MKIs, and Tejas fighters. This marks a significant milestone for the IAF, providing its pilots with direct tactical exposure to fifth-generation airpower in a multinational combat-training environment.
IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit confirmed the F-35's participation, highlighting that while the aircraft has been present in India before (e.g., at Aero India), this is the first time it will be integrated into an Indian-hosted tactical exercise. The F-35s are expected to engage in realistic training scenarios, potentially including opposing-force roles, allowing Indian crews to understand and counter advanced stealth tactics, sensor fusion, and networked operations.
Seven nations, including the US, France, UAE, Australia, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, will directly participate in Tarang Shakti 2026 with aircraft and other assets, while nearly 40 countries will participate or attend as observers. The exercise is seen as strategically relevant for the Indo-Pacific region, where the increasing prevalence of fifth-generation combat aircraft is reshaping air combat dynamics. Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University and former Indian Army officer, noted that the F-35s' participation signals a high degree of military confidence and interoperability between the US and India.